Record number of red squirrel sightings reported in annual survey

The public has reported a record number of red squirrel sightings as part of the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey.

Results from the sixth edition of the nationwide survey, which took place between September 30 and October 6, saw 1,802 people report over 2,500 squirrel sightings, the second-highest result to date and a 30% increase from 2023.

Public sightings in Aberdeen have revealed the success of ongoing conservation efforts to eradicate grey squirrels from the area.

Numerous reports of reds returning to the city have been made, but no greys have been spotted—although they are believed to still be present in very small numbers.

Contributions by the public also helped to detect low-density grey squirrel incursion northwards in Perthshire and other Lowland areas, aiding conservationists in their efforts to protect the red-only population of the Scottish Highlands – the largest red-only area left in the UK hosting around 80% of Scotland’s native squirrels.

Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels programme manager, Gail Turney, said: “We are incredibly grateful to every single person who took the time to get outside, explore their local areas, and report sightings of grey and red squirrels to us this year.

“Public sightings are vital to the work we carry out, and it has been incredibly uplifting to see records coming in from all over the country, with thousands of people responding to the call to help protect one of Scotland’s threatened iconic species.”

Once widespread throughout the country, red squirrel populations have declined in recent decades due to their replacement by introduced invasive non-native grey squirrels.

They out-compete the reds for food and habitat and spread the deadly squirrel-pox virus, which doesn’t harm greys but is fatal to reds.

Sightings of both species can be reported year-round on the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels website.